- For the MST3K episode, see MST3K 511 - Gunslinger.
Gunslinger is a 1956 western film directed by Roger Corman and written by Charles B. Griffith and Mark Hanna.
Plot[]
After her husband Scott, the sheriff of Oracle, Texas, is killed by two assailants, his widow Rose is named temporary sheriff. That night, Rose asks Erica Page to close her saloon in accordance with town regulations. The women fight, but eventually Erica closes for the night. After Rose exits, Erica tells lackey Jake to hire a killer, which he does, finding a man named Cane Miro. As Cane enters town, Rose shoots at him, mistaking him for a man she has been searching out. She apologizes. Cane tells Rose that he is going to Oracle to see town mayor Gideon Polk.
Cane enters Erica's saloon, where Polk has been telling her that she has overextended herself by buying property along a proposed railroad track. Cane confronts him until Erica requests he stop. Erica reveals that Rose is the woman who she paid Cane to kill; however, if the proposed railroad track is a success, she admits that Rose may not have to die.
Rose follows Cane as he exits town. When he stops so she can catch up, they talk and eventually kiss. Jake watches and reports to Erica, who becomes irate. She demands he kill Rose immediately. Cane reminds her that they cannot change the deal they made. Cane later explains to Rose that Polk had been his commander at a battle which could have been a victory but that Polk ran, depressing his men, who were later decimated. Rose makes Cane promise not to harm Polk, but still has Polk placed in protective custody.
Cane becomes intoxicated. Erica enters his room, and Jake, who has been spying, sees the two kiss, but leaves before he sees Cane reject Erica. An embarrassed Erica orders Cane to kill Rose no matter what. When she returns to her saloon, Jake slaps her. Jake goes to Rose's office and tells her everything he knows. Back at the saloon, Jake draws a gun on Cane, who kills him. Rose does not arrest him as Erica claimed it was self-defense.
After receiving a letter from the Pony Express, informing her that the railroad will not be built, Erica rides into town, with the intent of Cane killing Rose. Deputy Joshua Tate is killed when he confronts them. Cane goes after Polk, killing his wife when she shields him. Cane then shoots and kills Polk. Rose enters town and Erica aims at her, but Erica is shot by Cane before she can pull the trigger. Rose and Cane exchange fire. After he is shot, Cane asks if Rose loved him, and she replies that she did. Cane is fatally wounded, and Rose rides out of Oracle, declaring she will never come back.
Cast[]
- John Ireland as Cane Miro
- Beverly Garland as Marshal Rose Hood
- Allison Hayes as Erica Page
- Jonathan Haze as Jake Hayes
- Bruno VeSota as Zebelon Tabb
- William Schallert as Marshal Scott Hood
- Dick Miller as Jimmy Tonto
- Martin Kingsley as Mayor Gideon Polk
Notes[]
- Production of the film was plagued by misfortune. John Ireland and Beverly Garland were attacked by red ants during their romantic tree-sitting scene. Allison Hayes fell off her horse and broke her arm. Later, Beverly twisted her ankle and it became so swollen that her boot had to be cut off. The weather itself was even uncooperative, raining so much that many scenes had to be rewritten to be indoors, while others were shot outdoors under a tarp, and in either case making things muddy enough to make filming difficult. Corman wound up having to extend the film's intended six day shooting schedule to seven days, which he later recalled as the only time he ever had to go over schedule.
- The interior of the saloon was also used for Scroop's Inn in Corman's The Undead.
- The Battle of Lookout Mountain was an actual historical event. It was a decisive victory for the North, allowing them to break a siege on Union forces in the city of Chattanooga, and use it to stage attacks further into the Deep South. Its description in this film is of questionable accuracy.
MST3K Connections[]
- Director and producer Roger Corman was director and producer for It Conquered the World, Teenage Cave Man, The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, Day the World Ended, and The Undead. He was also executive producer for Attack of the Giant Leeches, High School Big Shot, Night of the Blood Beast, Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell, Wizards of the Lost Kingdom, Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II, Deathstalker II, Lords of the Deep (in which he also portrayed a corporate executive), and Munchie, as well as director for Swamp Diamonds, producer for Avalanche, and distribution producer for Starcrash.
- Writer Charles B. Griffith was also writer for It Conquered the World (in which he also portrayed Dr. Pete Shelton), The Undead, and Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II (in which he was also director).
- Writer Mark Hanna was also writer for The Amazing Colossal Man and The Undead, as well as production coordinator for Terror from the Year 5000.
- John Ireland also portrayed Senator Smedley in H.G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come.
- Beverly Garland also portrayed Claire Anderson in It Conquered the World and Vera in Swamp Diamonds.
- Allison Hayes also portrayed Donna in The Crawling Hand, Grace Thomas in The Unearthly, and Livia in The Undead.
- Jonathan Haze also portrayed Pvt. Manuel Oritz in It Conquered the World, the curly-haired boy in Teenage Cave Man, Ottar in The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, Charlie in Swamp Diamonds, and a contaminated man in Day the World Ended.
- Bruno VeSota also portrayed Sidney Chillas in Daddy-O, Dave Walker in Attack of the Giant Leeches, Mr. Seltzer in The Wild Wild World of Batwoman and Scroop in The Undead.
- Dick Miller also portrayed Sgt. Neill in It Conquered the World and the Leper in The Undead.
- William Schallert also portrayed Professor Mills in Hangar 18 and the third newscaster in Invasion USA.
- Paul McGuire (unspecified role) also portrayed Deputy Mannerly in Teen-Age Crime Wave.
- Aaron Saxon (Nate Signo) also portrayed Gobbo in The Undead.
- Bill Clark (barfly) also portrayed a cave man in Teenage Cave Man.
- Herman Hack (barfly) also portrayed a Grimault rider in The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent.
- Actor and stunt coordinator Paul Rapp (gunfighter) was also assistant director for High School Big Shot and executive producer and production manager for Avalanche.
- Executive producer Samuel Z. Arkoff was also executive producer for The Amazing Colossal Man, It Conquered the World, Earth vs the Spider, Teenage Cave Man, The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, War of the Colossal Beast, The Incredible Melting Man, Day the World Ended, Terror from the Year 5000, The She-Creature, and Squirm, as well as producer for Bride of the Monster, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Reptilicus, The Time Travelers, The Land That Time Forgot, At the Earth's Core, and Circus of Horrors.
- Executive producer James H. Nicholson was also executive producer for The Amazing Colossal Man, It Conquered the World, Earth vs the Spider, Teenage Cave Man, The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, War of the Colossal Beast, Day the World Ended, Terror from the Year 5000, and I Was a Teenage Werewolf, as well as producer for The She-Creature.
- Composer and musical director Ronald Stein was also composer for It Conquered the World, The Girl in Lovers Lane, Day the World Ended, The Undead, and The She-Creature, as well as stock music composer for Attack of the the Eye Creatures.
- Composer Russell Garcia was also composer for Radar Secret Service.
- Cinematographer Frederick E. West was also cinematographer for It Conquered the World, Swamp Diamonds, and The She-Creature.
- Editor Charles Gross Jr. was also editor for It Conquered the World.
- Assistant director Bartlett A. Carre was also production manager for Swamp Diamonds and production supervisor for Day the World Ended and The She-Creature (for which he was also assistant director).
- Key grip Charles Hannawalt was also key grip for The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, Day the World Ended, and The Undead, head grip for Swamp Diamonds, and chief grip for The Screaming Skull.